#Trece Locos Salvatrucha

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Massachusetts News: MS-13 Leader, Jose Vasquez Sentenced to 212 Months in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy

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Massachusetts News: MS-13 Leader, Jose Vasquez Sentenced to 212 Months in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy

Defendant attempted to murder teenager; helped bury evidence from murder of another teenager

BOSTON, Ms. – An MS-13 leader was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for racketeering conspiracy.

Jose Vasquez, a/k/a “Little Crazy,” 24, of Somerville, was sentenced to 212 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2018, Vasquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy.

Vasquez was a member and local leader of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha, or TLS, clique of MS-13. In addition to being a leader of an MS-13 clique, Vasquez personally participated in racketeering activity and acts of violence on behalf of MS-13. Among other things, on Sept. 8, 2014, Vasquez and another MS-13 member, Angel Pineda, a/k/a “Bravo,” were involved in an attempted murder of a 16-year-old suspected gang rival.

During the incident, which occurred on a public street in Chelsea in the middle of the afternoon, Pineda stabbed the victim multiple times. Vasquez, carrying a machete, also attempted to stab and kill the victim, but Vasquez’s machete got stuck in its sheath. The victim survived after receiving life-saving medical care.

In a separate incident, Vasquez assisted other MS-13 members in burying evidence relating to a murder in East Boston in January 2016. On Jan. 10, 2016, MS-13 members Edwin Gonzalez, a/k/a “Sangriento,” Edwin Diaz, a/k/a “Demente,” Jairo Perez, a/k/a “Seco,” and Rigoberto Mejia, a/k/a “Ninja,” murdered a 16-year-old boy who the gang also believed was a rival gang member. Gonzalez, Diaz, and Perez stabbed the victim multiple times while Mejia shot the victim multiple times.

This incident occurred on a public street in East Boston and the victim died on the scene. A few days after the boy’s death, Vasquez—who did not participate in the murder—helped Perez bury the knives used in the killing, as well as the bloody clothes worn by those who committed the murder. The evidence was later recovered by law enforcement.

After a multi-year investigation, Vasquez was one of dozens of leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 named in a superseding indictment unsealed in January 2016 that targeted MS-13’s criminal activities in Massachusetts. According to court documents, MS-13 members in Massachusetts engaged in a variety of racketeering acts and crimes of violence, including six different murders between October 2014 and January 2016.

Vasquez is one of 49 defendants who have been convicted as part of this ongoing prosecution, and 16 of those defendants have been held responsible for murder. 40 of the 49 convictions, including Vasquez, were the result of guilty pleas prior to trial. Nine other defendants were convicted after trial.

All the defendants involved in the attempted murder or murder that Vasquez assisted with have been convicted. Diaz, who participated in the murder, was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and Pineda, who participated in the attempted murder, was sentenced to 93 months in prison. Gonzalez, Perez, and Mejia await sentencing.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today.

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SOURCE: news provided by JUSTICE.GOV on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

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Massachusetts News: MS-13 Member, Modesto Ramirez a.k.a."Snoopy" Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy

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Massachusetts News: MS-13 Member, Modesto Ramirez a.k.a."Snoopy" Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy

BOSTON, MA – An MS-13 member pleaded guilty Thursday, May 17th in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy.

Modesto Ramirez, a/k/a “Snoopy,” 29, a Honduran national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for August 21, 2018.

After a multi-year investigation, Ramirez was one of dozens of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 named in a superseding indictment unsealed in January 2016 that targeted MS-13’s criminal activities in Massachusetts. Ramirez is the 47th defendant to be convicted as part of that ongoing prosecution.

Ramirez was a member of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha or TLS clique of MS-13.  The evidence against Ramirez included a secretly-taped recording made by a cooperating witness in which Ramirez discussed his intention to kill a gang rival.

At today’s hearing, the Court accepted Ramirez’s guilty plea but deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until the sentencing hearing.  Under the terms of the proposed plea agreement, Ramirez will be sentenced to 97 months in prison.  Ramirez will also be subject to deportation upon the completion of his sentence.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement.

The remaining defendants charged in this case are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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SOURCE: news provided by JUSTICE.GOV on Friday, May 18, 2018

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MS-13 Leader Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy

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MS-13 Leader Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy

Defendant committed attempted murder and helped bury evidence from murder

BOSTON, MA – Wednesday, An MS-13 member pleaded guilty  in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy.

Jose Vasquez, a/k/a “Little Crazy,” 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy.  U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Aug. 30, 2018.

Vasquez was a member and local leader of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha or TLS clique of MS-13.  Vasquez personally participated in racketeering activity on behalf of MS-13.  Among other things, on Sept. 8, 2014, Vasquez and another MS-13 member, Angel Pineda a/k/a “Bravo,” were involved in an attempted murder of a suspected gang rival in which the victim was stabbed multiple times.

Separately, Vasquez assisted other MS-13 members in burying evidence relating to a murder in East Boston in January 2016.  On Jan. 10, 2016, Edwin Diaz, a/k/a “Demente,” Rigoberto Mejia, a/k/a “Ninja,” and other MS-13 members murdered a 16-year-old boy who MS-13 members believed to belong to the rival 18th Street gang.  The victim was shot and stabbed multiple times.  A few days after the murder, Vasquez—who did not personally commit the murder—helped another MS-13 member hide evidence related to the murder.  Specifically, Vasquez helped bury the knife and machete used in the murder, as well as bloody clothes worn by those who committed the crime.  This evidence was later recovered by law enforcement.

After a multi-year investigation, Vasquez was one of dozens of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 named in a superseding indictment unsealed in January 2016 that targeted MS-13’s criminal activities in Massachusetts.  Vasquez is the 46th defendant to be convicted as part of that ongoing prosecution.

Pineda previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 93 months in prison. Diaz and Mejia previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy involving murder and are awaiting sentencing.

At today’s hearing, the Court accepted Vasquez’s guilty plea but deferred acceptance of the proposed plea agreement until the sentencing hearing.  Under the terms of the proposed plea agreement, Vasquez will be sentenced to between 15 and 18 years in prison.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement.

The remaining defendants charged in this case are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source;  U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts